Otti unveils 20 electric buses
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu and Sunday Nwankanma
23rd May 2025
Abia
State Governor, Alex Otti, has announced the procurement of 20 electric
buses which will be rolled out in the next two months.
The
governor also revealed that $29m (the equivalent of N9.8bn at the time)
was spent by the immediate-past administration in the reconstruction of
Port Harcourt road, which was not realised, adding that his government
successfully built the road with $22m (the equivalent of N36.5bn at
current exchange rate).
Otti disclosed this while addressing the
Aba community, who organised a thanksgiving carnival on the Umuagbai
Secondary School premises, Port Harcourt Road, in celebration of the
reconstruction and completion of Port Harcourt Road, abandoned for over
three decades.
He said bus terminals were being built for the
transport system in the state while the 20 electric buses for the
transportation would be for the first batch.
“In the next two
months, not more than two months, our transport system will start
working. So, if you go around, you will see the bus terminals we are
building.
“We have paid for the 20 electric buses. So, they are bringing the buses to carry you and me, and the buses will be beautiful.
“You
know the kind of buses you see abroad. That is the kind of bus you will
see in Abia. The only difference is that these buses will not use
petrol. It will not use diesel. It will not use gasoline. They will be
electric buses,” Otti stated.
The governor, who recalled his
efforts in fixing the Port Harcourt Road against the attacks of the
noisy opposition, said he replied the shameless opposition with
performances.
He also revealed that the amount of money spent by
the immediate-past administration in the reconstruction of Port Harcourt
road, which was not realised, was much more than what his government
spent in realising the road.
“In 2017, they awarded this Port
Harcourt Road. The amount at that time was N9.8bn and they paid out the
entire money. But the road was not done.
“So, when in 2025, the
road cost N36.5bn, they started making noise. So, I said, since you
people understand mathematics, the average exchange rate in 2017 was
N333 to a Dollar. Now, if you apply that, the N9.8bn was actually $29m
(equivalent).
“In 2025, at the average exchange rate of N1,600, N36.5bn is actually $22.8m equivalent. So, let us do the mathematics.
“$29m
and $22m, which is higher? The real issue is that in 2017, $29m was
spent, and no road was done. In 2025, $22m was spent and a standard road
is done and delivered for use,” Otti said.
While appreciating
the reception organised for him, Otti thanked the Aba people for their
sustained support, right from 2015 when he contested the governorship
election for the first time.
He gave N1.4m reward to a keke
driver in Aba, who returned N2.4m forgotten by a passenger in his
tricycle and commended such act of honesty.
Senator Darlington
Nwokocha and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Emmanuel
Emeruwa, saluted Otti for his strides in Aba and Abia State in general.
They said that the feat so far achieved by Otti was a testament to a focused leadership in the state.
Speaking
on behalf of the Aba business community and the Aba Landlord’s
Association, Chief David Onuoha, Chief Leo Okoye, Chief Alphonsus Odigbo
and the chairman of the occasion, John Udeagba, said they decided to
put the event together to show appreciation to the governor.
The
convener of the carnival, Chief Onyeka Udeajah, lauded Otti, adding that
the Port Harcourt Road stood tall in the achievements of the governor. https://punchng.com/otti-unveils-20-electric-buses/
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